454 *the Cuckoo-like Birds 



male is about twenty-eight and the female twenty-nine inches in length, both 

 having the general plumage greenish blue, becoming black on the large crest 

 and on the nape, the chest pale green and the abdomen rufous-brown, while the 

 tail shows much yellow. This species frequents only the virgin forest, going about 

 in small parties and keeping to the tops of the highest trees. 



THE PARROTS 



(Suborder Psittaci) 



There is, perhaps, no other group of birds of similar rank that embraces so 

 large a number of interesting and engaging members as the present, nor are there 

 many groups more sharply circumscribed. As we have seen in so many other 

 groups, it is the exception rather than the rule that each member falls easily 

 within the prescribed lines of the group, there being usually " outliers" in this 

 way or that, but not so with the Parrots, for each form, with the possible excep- 

 tion of the Owl-Parrot of New Zealand, measures up to the abstract idea of what 

 a Parrot is supposed to be, and even the oldest fossil form of which we have any 

 knowledge, occurring in the Miocene deposits of France, is just as distinctly a 

 "Parrot" as any now living. This similarity of appearance, which every tyro 

 recognizes, probably argues for a very ancient origin and an early loss of the 

 links connecting them with other groups. But, although they exhibit this gen- 

 eral similarity of structure, the individual structural elements are so variously 

 combined that it is difficult to decide which set of characters to give most value 

 to in attempting to fix the relationships of the group, and we can well accept 

 the edict of Mr. Beddard, who says that "the determination of the affinities of the 

 Parrots to other groups of birds is one of the hardest problems in ornithology." 

 They have often been placed next the Owls, with which they appear to have many 

 albeit superficial points in common, but, in the light of the fullest modern 

 information, it appears likely that their closest relationship is with the Cuckoos 

 and Plantain-eaters, though, to quote again from Beddard, "it must be held 

 that they have emerged from a low stock at a time not far removed from that at 

 which the Cuculi and Musophagi also emerged, but that there is not a common 

 starting of the three groups." 



Although perhaps hardly necessary, it may be advisable to briefly set forth 

 the principal characters of Parrots. They are birds of varying size with a rather 

 compact body, relatively short neck and large head, and may be known at once 

 by the permanently zygodactyl feet, the first and fourth toes being directed back- 

 ward, and the short, extremely stout, strongly hooked bill, which is provided 

 at the base with a cere, as in the birds of prey. The cere, however, is frequently 

 feathered, which it very rarely is in the latter group. The legs are in general 

 very short and the feet covered with granular scales, while the oil-gland when 

 present is tufted. There are a number of other important characters, such as 

 the articulation of the upper mandible to the skull by means of a transverse 



